General Better Lab Tests Now (BLTN) FAQs

Can I draw my own blood or have a friend draw it?

No! Under no circumstances should any person attempt to draw their own blood. Blood draws can only be performed by certified phlebotomists or physicians who are qualified to draw blood. Better Lab Tests Now will assume no responsibility for any person who attempts to perform procedures they are not qualified to perform.

Where can I go for a blood draw?

We work with a nationwide referral service that can schedule a mobile phlebotomist to come to your home or office. Contact us at 877-894-8363 to schedule a blood draw.

How long will it take to get results?

Results are sent to BLTN from each of the labs performing the tests. We send those results to patients as soon as we get them, usually the same day. For LRA tests the results are issued 7-10 days from day sample is submitted. Clifford Dental Materials and Orthopedic Materials Screenings results are issued 2-4 days after the sample is submitted. Please call for turnaround times on other tests.

Are the tests covered by insurance?

BLTN is a direct online access lab and because there is no health care provider, ordering the test insurance will not pay for these tests.

LRA FAQs

How do I prepare for LRA testing?

There are several simple, but critical steps to ensure you get the most accurate LRA test results. You must fast prior to your blood draw, consuming only spring or distilled water during the 12 hours prior to your blood draw. See here for additional important preparation instructions. Contact ELISA/ACT Biotechnologies for any questions about the preparation instructions. Your blood will not be drawn for this test if you have not followed the preparation instructions.

How is the LRA by ELISA/ACT testing done?

LRA by ELISA/ACT testing is a cell culture done on a sample of whole blood. The serum is separated and incubated together with purified antigens. The reaction is then read to determine reactivity of your lymphocytes against the antigens. Each antigen is tested separately to determine precisely to which items your body is reacting.

How accurate is the LRA test?

The LRA by ELISA/ACT testing system is comprehensive and highly reproducible with a split sample daily variance of less than 3% of the items tested.

Do I have to have recently been exposed to an item for the test to be accurate?

No. White blood cells have very long memory. If you have ever been exposed, that is sufficient.

Can LRA testing be done on children?

LRA testing can be very helpful in identifying hidden burdens on the immune system for children as young as 2 years old. For children younger than 2 the mother should be tested and her results applied to the child.

Will I always be sensitive to certain foods?

The short answer is maybe. Most sensitivities are acquired, and you can repair the underlying cause, permanently lose the sensitivity, and regain the ability to eat that food. Some sensitivities are fixed. They are just part of your makeup and must permanently be avoided. On a typical person, between 80-90% of the sensitivities are acquired and will go away, while 10-20% are fixed, and you will permanently have to avoid those items.

I have constant stomach issues. I have modified my diet to be lactose free and it has somewhat helped, but the situation persists. Now I am trying a gluten free diet, which seems to be in everything that I would eat!!! Is there a simple test that would help me with this??

Clifford Dental Materials FAQs

Is fasting required?

No, this specific kind of lab testing does not require alteration of your diet nor that you fast.

Will my medications interfere with the test?

Most medications including antibiotics will not affect the testing. If you have been on a long-term treatment plan that includes cortical steroidal or immunosuppressive medications please consult your healthcare professional before ordering the test.

What days can I ship my blood sample?

Test specimens may be shipped Monday through Thursday to Clifford Consulting and Research, Inc. for testing. We do ask that no specimens be shipped on Friday as there are no available personnel on the weekends to accept the shipment and store the specimen. After being separated into serum and removed from the clotting tube specimens drawn on Friday may be stored in a refrigerator or freezer over the weekend.

How long are the test results good for?

Results can and do change over time. For most relatively healthy adults results should be stable for at least 18 to 24 months. There may be some healthcare treatments or new material exposures that can change results for better or worse. Your healthcare professional is the best source for information regarding the usability of the results over time.

How accurate is the test (are there false negatives or positives)?

The accuracy and precision of the Clifford Material Reactivity test is approximately comparable to testing used for evaluation of blood sugar and cholesterol. This is based on the results of multiple samples drawn over a period of time with an accumulated accuracy of 95% or greater. The precision of repeated testing from a single sample is 97% or greater.

You are what you Eat, Drink, Think and Do! Health is more about choice than chance. Choose the Alkaline Way. The Alkaline Way is a personalized eating and lifestyle plan from world-renowned researcher Russell Jaffe MD, PhD, CCN.